Summerfest Eats

Summer Fest Food Guide: Best burger, grilled cheese, pizza, dessert and more

Free Press Summer Fest descends upon Houston this weekend. With almost 100,000 concertgoers expected on the grounds of Eleanor Tinsley Park, feeding the masses is one of the top concerns. From sweet to savory and local favorites to out-of-towners, organizers have arranged for a diverse array of options that are sure to keep everyone fueled up for the day's festivities.

While no one's here to judge how someone worked up his or her appetite (dancing, right?), the key is to satisfy one's hunger and get back to the stage. With temps only expected to be in the high 80s, eating a decent sized meal isn't likely to slow anyone down too much.

Find a few suggestions below of what to check out. Or take a chance and try something we've overlooked.

Best Burger, Bernie's Burger Bus

One of Houston's most popular food trucks makes another return to the festival grounds with a full menu of burgers, sliders and fries. Prices are consistent with the truck's regular offerings, too, which means they're high-ish compared to fast food burgers but a pretty solid value compared to what restaurants are charging for burgers of similar quality. Maybe split the order of fries with a friend or two; that amount of salt can't be good for staying hydrated.

Best Hot Dog, Sammy's Wild Game Grill

The eclectic, Washington Ave restaurant known for its wild game dogs is bringing a short menu of customer favorites to the festival. For $9, diners can choose from buffalo, pheasant or duck sausage topped with a range of options and slathered in one of six sauces. Full flavor and one-handed portability: what's not to love?

Best Vegetarian, Hippie Dips

A few of the stands have options for those looking to keep their diets meat-free, but this Kentucky-based outfit has the best mix of options. Entrees include both a caprese sandwich and a vegetable panini. Looking for a snack or something sweet? Fruit smoothies and fruit-filled waffle cones should hit the spot. Carnivores in search of a little retro fun might enjoy the PB&J panini with banana and bacon.

Best Pizza, Pink's Pizza

The inside-the-Loop pizza chain is a festival staple. Expect pepperoni, cheese and more. It won't be as good as it is fresh from the stores, but it will satisfy a craving. With three stands on the grounds, it should be easy to find.

Best Sandwich, Golden Grill

Fresh of its Curry Crawl win, the grilled cheese truck is bringing five of its offerings to the festival. Go classic or add meat in the form of buffalo chicken or carnitas.

Best Dessert, Custom Confections

A veteran of both FPSF and the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Custom Confections knows how to please a crowd. Given the heat, the right choice looks to be the signature frosty bite, an ice cream-filled cupcake, but the signature brownie sundae is equally hard to resist.

Best Pre-party, Beaver's

Want to fuel up before the fest? Beaver's is offering 10 percent off its modern comfort food to wristband wearers. The current menu has six (!?!) kinds of mac and cheese on it, which may be a little heavy for a pre-show eating but seems worth noting anyway.

Best After party, Clutch City Squire

Head to this industry hangout after the festival for a nightcap. Anyone wearing an intact wristband will receive $1 off craft and import beers all night. DJ Chingersen will spin an all vinyl set from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

A diverse array of food options exists to feed the almost 100,000 people who attend FPSF.

Free Press Summer Festival, Houston Facebook

A diverse array of food options exists to feed the almost 100,000 people who attend FPSF.

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One Day Only

Chef of Michelin-starred Texas BBQ joint pops up at Houston crawfish favorite

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Join Lucas McKinney for a crawfish pop-up this Sunday, May 17.

The pitmaster behind one of Texas’ Michelin-starred barbecue joints will be in Houston for a one-day-only crawfish boil. Evan LeRoy, chef and co-owner of Austin’s LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue, will be at Josephine’s this Sunday, May 17 from 2-6 pm.

Part of the restaurant’s Backyard Boil pop-up series, LeRoy and Josephine’s executive chef Lucas McKinney have collaborated on a four dishes that will be served at the pop-up, which will take place on Josephine’s patio. They are:

Smoked Crawfish Boil Sausage on a Stick: andouille flavored pork sausage with crawfish, corn, and potatoes
Brisket and Cheddar Croquettes: Chopped brisket and cheddar cheese in a creamy bechamel. Scooped, breaded in panko, and fried til crispy
Oysters on the Half Shell: Pickled Onion Mignonette, Smoked Jalapeno Salsa, Kimchi Elote
Smoked Salsa Macha with Beef Tallow: Guajillo, ancho, and arbol chiles, lime, soy, garlic, onion, pepitas, and pecans

The pop-up is part of LeRoy’s tour for his new book, New School Barbecue: Recipes for Next-Level Smoking and Grilling, which he co-wrote with Texas Monthly restaurant critic Paula Forbes. Released this week, the book contains almost 100 recipes for mains, sides, and desserts.

LeRoy & Lewis Evan Leroy ATX Evan LeRoy is coming to Houston this weekend. Photo by Briana Balducci

“Lucas asked me to participate in a crawfish boil this year, and it happened to line up with the release of the book, so I said yes,” LeRoy tells CultureMap. “The event format centers around a crawfish boil, along with some fried items and oysters, so it doesn't necessarily reflect the recipes in the book. Instead, we decided to bring a few dishes we’ve been working on over the past year or so, including the brisket and cheddar croquettes — which will definitely make it into my next cookbook.”

McKinney has already hosted pop-ups with the likes of ChòpnBlọk chef-owner Ope Amosu and Mike Pham of Trill Burgers.

“With these crawfish boils, I want each chef to bring their own perspective and let the menu reflect their personal style of cooking,” McKinney adds. “Events like this are really centered around community, collaboration, and introducing something fresh and exciting to Houston each time.”

LeRoy and Lewis has earned wide acclaim for its “new school” barbecue. In addition to being one of only four Texas barbecue joints to hold a Michelin star, it ranked No. 2 on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s 50 best barbecue joints. McKinney began patronizing the restaurant when his friend, pitmaster Cole Parkman, worked there.

“It’s incredibly good,” McKinney says. “Eating there feels like they’re telling you, ‘I know you think you like brisket, but this is what you should really like.’ I really respect that they’ve planted their feet firmly in the ground and committed to doing things differently. It all makes so much sense — and it’s delicious.”

Reservations (free) are required to attend the Backyard Boil at Josephine’s; both 2 pm and 4 pm seatings are available. Attendees will purchase food and drinks a la carte. Josephine’s regular menu will not be available at the pop-up. Copies of New School Barbecue will also be available for purchase.

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